Wireless communications and transducer based event detection platform

ABSTRACT

A low-cost, multi-function adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform with a form factor that unobtrusively integrates one or more transducers and one or more wireless communication devices in an adhesive product system. In an aspect, the adhesive product system integrates transducer and wireless communication components within a flexible adhesive structure in a way that not only provides a cost-effective platform for interconnecting, optimizing, and protecting the constituent components but also maintains the flexibility needed to function as an adhesive product that can be deployed seamlessly and unobtrusively into various applications and workflows, including sensing, notification, security, and object tracking applications, and asset management workflows such as manufacturing, storage, shipping, delivery, and other logistics associated with moving products and other physical objects.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to wireless communications and transducerplatforms.

SUMMARY

This specification describes a low-cost, multi-function adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform (also referred to hereinas the “adhesive product”) with a form factor that unobtrusivelyintegrates one or more transducers and one or more wirelesscommunication devices in an adhesive product system.

In an aspect, the adhesive product system integrates transducer andwireless communication components within a flexible adhesive structurein a way that not only provides a cost-effective platform forinterconnecting, optimizing, and protecting the constituent componentsbut also maintains the flexibility needed to function as an adhesiveproduct that can be deployed seamlessly and unobtrusively into variousapplications and workflows, including sensing, notification, security,and object tracking applications, and asset management workflows such asmanufacturing, storage, shipping, delivery, and other logisticsassociated with moving products and other physical objects.

The adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform can have avariety of form factors, including a multilayer roll or sheet thatincludes a plurality of divisible adhesive segments each of which isequipped with wireless communications and transducing functionalities.Once deployed, each adhesive segment can function, for example, as anadhesive tape, label, sticker, decal, or the like and, at the same time,as an inconspicuous smart wireless communicator with transducing (e.g.,sensing) functionality.

In an example, an adhesive segment includes a transducer configured toreceive an input stimulus and generate an output signal based on thesensed input stimulus. The input stimulus may be any type of detectablephysical stimulus, including for example, electromagnetic waves such asvisible light, capacitance, magnetism, sound, heat, pressure, force,torque, motion, acceleration, position, humidity, a substance such as achemical or compound, and others.

In an example, an adhesive segment includes an output transducerconfigured to receive an input signal and produce an output stimulusbased on the received input signal. The input signal may be any type ofsignal that is compatible with the output transducer, including digitaland analog electrical signals (e.g., alternating current, directcurrent, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates, etc.), one or moremechanical linkages controlling an actuator, such as a valve, etc.

In an example, an adhesive segment can track location information eitherautonomously or collectively with other activated segments. In anautonomous mode of operation, an adhesive segment can be configured tocommunicate with a variety of different wireless locationing systems andequipment to determine or assist in determining information relating toits geographic or relative location. In a collective mode of operation,a set of segments can additionally communicate with one another toself-organize and self-configure into, for example, a mesh network and,thereby, create mechanisms or opportunities for acquiring and/or sharingacquired location information in or across areas that are not supportedby existing infrastructure equipment.

Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specificationinclude methods, processes, systems, apparatus, and tangiblenon-transitory carrier media encoded with one or more programinstructions for carrying out one or more methods and processes forenabling the various functionalities of the described systems andapparatus.

Other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of the subject matterdescribed in this specification will become apparent from thedescription, the drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagrammatic view of a package that has been sealed forshipment using a segment of an example adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform dispensed from a roll.

FIG. 1B is a diagrammatic top view of a portion of the segment of theexample adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform shownin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic view of an example of an envelope carrying asegment of an example adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform dispensed from a backing sheet.

FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic top view of an example adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform implemented as an adhesivebandage.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an example of a network environmentsupporting communications with segments of an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example segment of an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform.

FIG. 5A is a diagrammatic view of an example transducer converting inputenergy received from an energy storage component to output energy.

FIG. 5B is a diagrammatic view of an example transducer convertingenergy received from an external source to energy for charging an energystorage component.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top view of a length of an example adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform.

FIGS. 7A-7D show diagrammatic cross-sectional side views of portions ofdifferent respective adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatforms.

FIG. 8A is a diagrammatic top view of a length of an example trackingadhesive product.

FIG. 8B is a diagrammatic top view of a length of an example trackingadhesive product.

FIG. 8C is diagrammatic cross-sectional side view of an example trackingadhesive product and an example package.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of an example process for detecting theoccurrence of an event proximate an adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of an example adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform adhered to an example ofconstruction equipment.

FIG. 11A is a diagrammatic view of an example adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform that includes a light reflectivesurface.

FIG. 11B is a diagrammatic view of examples of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform of FIG. 11A mounted on a fireextinguisher.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of an example adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform in the form of a label containingreflective lettering adhered to a traffic sign.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an example of an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform adhered to an example ofclothing.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of a printing system.

FIG. 15A is a diagrammatic view of a top surface of an example adhesiveproduct segment.

FIG. 15B is a diagrammatic view of components of the example adhesiveproduct segment shown in FIG. 15A.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an example computer apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference numbers are used toidentify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended toillustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammaticmanner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of actualembodiments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements, and arenot drawn to scale.

As used herein, the term “or” refers an inclusive “or” rather than anexclusive “or.” In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in thespecification and claims mean “one or more” unless specified otherwiseor clear from the context to refer the singular form.

In the instant specification, an adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform is described that includes a plurality of segmentsthat can be separated from the adhesive product (e.g., by cutting,tearing, peeling, or the like) and adhesively attached to a variety ofdifferent surfaces to inconspicuously implement any of a wide variety ofdifferent wireless communications based transducing (e.g., sensing,emitting, etc.) applications. Examples of such applications include:event detection applications, monitoring applications, securityapplications, notification applications, and tracking applications,including inventory tracking, package tracking, person tracking, animal(e.g., pet) tracking, manufacturing parts tracking, and vehicletracking. In example embodiments, each segment of an adhesive product isequipped with an energy source, wireless communication functionality,transducing functionality, and processing functionality that enable thesegment to perform one or more transducing functions and report theresults to a remote server or other computer system. The components ofthe adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform system areencapsulated within a flexible adhesive structure that protects thecomponents from damage while maintaining the flexibility needed tofunction as an adhesive product (e.g., an adhesive tape or label) foruse in various applications and workflows. In addition to singlefunction applications, example embodiments also include multiple sensorsthat extend the utility of the platform by providing supplementalinformation regarding characteristics of the state and or environmentof, for example, an article, object, vehicle, or person, over time.

The instant specification also describes systems and processes forfabricating flexible multifunction adhesive products in efficient andlow-cost ways. In addition to using roll-to-roll and/or sheet-to-sheetmanufacturing techniques, the fabrication systems and processes areconfigured to optimize the placement and integration of componentswithin the flexible adhesive structure to achieve high flexibility andruggedness. In this way, these fabrication systems and processes areable to create useful and reliable adhesive products that can provideambient sensing functionality, including locationing functionality. Thisfunctionality together with the low cost of production is expected toencourage the ubiquitous deployment of adhesive product segments andthereby alleviate at least some of the problems arising from gaps inconventional infrastructure coverage that prevent continuous monitoring,event detection, security, and tracking applications acrossheterogeneous environments.

FIG. 1A shows an example package 10 that is sealed for shipment using anexample adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12 thatincludes embedded transducing components 14. In this example, a segment13 of the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12 isdispensed from a roll 16 and applied to the package 10. The adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform 12 includes an adhesiveside 18 and a non-adhesive side 20. The adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform 12 can be dispensed from the roll 16 in the sameway as any conventional packing tape, shipping tape, or duct tape. Forexample, the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12may be dispensed from the roll 16 by hand, laid across the seam wherethe two top flaps of the package 10 meet, and cut to a suitable lengtheither by hand or using a cutting instrument (e.g., scissors or anautomated or manual tape dispenser). Examples of such tapes includetapes have non-adhesive sides 20 that carry one or more coatings orlayers (e.g., radiation reflective or radiation absorbing coatings orlayers).

Referring to FIG. 1B, in some examples, the non-adhesive side 20 of thesegment 13 of the adhesive product 12 includes writing or other markingsthat may convey instructions, warnings, or other information to a personor machine (e.g., a bar code reader), or may simply be decorative and/orentertaining. In the illustrated example, the segment 13 of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform 12 includes atwo-dimensional bar code 22, written instructions 24 (i.e., “Cut Here”),and an associated cut line 26 that indicates where the user should cutthe adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12. Thewritten instructions 24 and the cut line 26 typically are printed orotherwise marked on the top, non-adhesive surface 20 of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform 12 during manufacture.The two-dimensional bar code 22, on the other hand, may be marked on thenon-adhesive surface 20 of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform 12 during the manufacture of the adhesive product 12or, alternatively, may be marked on the non-adhesive surface 20 of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12 as neededusing, for example, a printer or other marking device.

In order to avoid damage to the tracking functionality of the segmentsof the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12, thecut lines 26 typically demarcate the boundaries between adjacentsegments at locations that are free of any transducing components 14.The spacing between the transducing components 14 and the cut lines 26may vary depending on the intended application or the intended adhesiveapplication. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1A, the length of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12 that isdispensed to seal the package 10 corresponds to a single segment of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12. In otherexamples, the length of adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 12 needed to seal a package or otherwise serve the adhesivefunction for which the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform is being applied may include multiple segments 13 of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12, one or moreof which segments 13 may be activated upon cutting the length of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12 from theroll 16 and/or applying the length of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform to the package 10.

In some examples, the transducing components 14 embedded in one or moresegments 13 of the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 12 are activated when the adhesive product 12 is cut along thecut line 26. In these examples, the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform 12 includes one or more embedded energy sources(e.g., thin film batteries or conventional cell batteries, such asconventional watch style batteries, rechargeable batteries, or otherrechargeable energy storage devise, such as a super capacitor or chargepump) that supply power to the transducing components 14 in one or moresegments of the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform12 in response to being separated from the adhesive product 12 (e.g.,along a cut line 26).

In some examples, each segment 13 of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform 12 includes its own respectiveenergy source. In some of these examples, each energy source isconfigured to only supply power to the components in its respectiveadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segmentregardless of the number of contiguous segments 13 that are in a givenlength of adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 12.In other examples, when a given length of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform 12 includes multiple segments 13,the energy sources in the respective segments 13 are configured tosupply power to the transducing components 14 in all of the segments 13in the given length of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform 12. In some of these examples, the energy sourcesare connected in parallel and concurrently activated to power thetransducing components 14 in all of the segments 13 at the same time. Inother ones of these examples, the energy sources are connected inparallel and alternately activated to power the transducing components14 in respective ones of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segments 13 at different time periods, which may ormay not overlap.

FIG. 2A shows an example adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 30 that includes a set of adhesive segments 32 each of whichincludes a respective set of embedded transducing components 34, and abacking sheet 36 with a release coating that prevents the adhesivesegments 32 from adhering strongly to the backing sheet 36. Each segment32 includes an adhesive side facing the backing sheet 36, and anopposing non-adhesive side 40. In this example, a particular segment 32′of the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 30 hasbeen removed from the backing sheet 36 and affixed to an envelope 44.Each segment 32 of the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 30 can be removed from the backing sheet 36 in the same waythat adhesive labels can be removed from a conventional sheet ofadhesive labels (e.g., by manually peeling a segment 32 from the backingsheet 36). In general, the non-adhesive side 40′ of the segment 32′ mayinclude any type of writing, markings, decorative designs, or otherornamentation. In the illustrated example, the non-adhesive side 40′ ofthe segment 32′ includes writing or other markings that correspond to adestination address for the envelope 44. The envelope 44 also includes areturn address 46 and, optionally, a postage stamp or mark 48.

In some examples, the adhesive product segment components 34 that areembedded in a segment 32 of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform 12 are activated when the segment 32 is removed fromthe backing sheet 32. In some of these examples, each segment 32includes an embedded capacitive sensing system that can sense a changein capacitance when the segment 32 is removed from the backing sheet 36.As explained in detail below, a segment 32 of the adhesive product 30includes one or more embedded energy sources (e.g., thin film batteries,common disk-shaped cell batteries, or rechargeable batteries or otherenergy storage devices, such as a super capacitor or charge pump) thatcan be configured to supply power to the adhesive product segmentcomponents 34 in the segment 32 in response to the detection of a changein capacitance between the segment 32 and the backing sheet 36 as aresult of removing the segment 32 from the backing sheet 36.

FIG. 2B shows a top view of an example adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform implemented as an adhesive bandage 49. Theadhesive bandage 49 includes a flexible layer 51 having a top side 53and a bottom side (not shown). The top side 53 includes a flexiblesurface with a plurality of perforations 55. The bottom side includes aprotective layer 57 in a central region of the bottom side of theadhesive bandage 49. The protective layer 57 typically includes gauze ora similar type of absorbent material. The bottom side also includesadhesive regions on either side of the central region 57. In theillustrated example, the adhesive product segment components 34 areembedded in one or more layers between the flexible layer 51 and theprotective layer 57 of the adhesive bandage 49.

FIG. 3 shows an example network environment 50 that includes a network52 that supports communications between a network service 54,communications equipment 56, and a client device 58. The network 52includes one or more network communication systems and technologies,including any one or more of wide area networks, local area networks,public networks (e.g., the internet), private networks (e.g., intranetsand extranets), wired networks, and wireless networks. Thecommunications equipment 56 includes any one or more of (i) satellitebased tracking systems 60 (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR) thattransmit geolocation data that can be received by suitably equippedreceivers in segments of an adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform, (ii) cellular based systems that use mobilecommunication technologies (e.g., GSM, GPRS, CDMA, etc.) to implementone or more cell-based localization techniques, and (iii) communicationsequipment 56, such as wireless access points (e.g., Wi-Fi nodes,Bluetooth nodes, ZigBee nodes, etc.) and other shorter rangelocalization technologies (e.g., ultrasonic localization and/or deadreckoning based on motion sensor measurements).

As explained in detail below, location data for one or more activatedadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segments 64 canbe obtained using one or more of the communications systems andtechnologies described above.

For example, an adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformsegment 64 that includes a GPS receiver is operable to receive locationdata (e.g., geolocation data) from the Global Positioning System (GPS).In this process, the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 64 periodically monitors signals from multiple GPSsatellites. Each signal contains information about the time the signalwas transmitted and the position of the satellite at the time oftransmission. Based on the location and time information for each offour or more satellites, the GPS receiver determines the geolocation ofthe adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64and the offset of its internal clock from true time. Depending on itsconfiguration, the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 64 can either forward the received GPS location data tothe network service 54 to determine its geolocation, or first computegeolocation coordinates from the received GPS location data and reportthe computed geolocation coordinates to the network service 54. However,the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64can only determine its GPS location when it is able to receive signalsfrom at least four GPS satellites at the same time. As a result, GPSlocalization typically is limited or unavailable in urban environmentsand indoor locations.

Instead of or in addition to GPS localization, an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 64 can be configured todetermine or assist in determining its location using terrestriallocationing techniques. For example, Received Signal Strength Indicator(RSSI) techniques may be used to determine the location of an adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment 64. Thesetechniques include, for example, fingerprint matching, trilateration,and triangulation. In an example RSSI fingerprinting process, one ormore predetermined radio maps of a target area are compared togeo-reference RSSI fingerprints that are obtained from measurements ofat least three wireless signal sources (e.g., cellular towers orwireless access points) in the target area to ascertain the location ofthe adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64.The predetermined radio maps typically are stored in a database that isaccessible by the network service 54. In example RSSI triangulation andtrilateration processes, the location of an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 64 can be determined frommeasurements of signals transmitted from at least three omnidirectionalwireless signal sources (e.g., cellular towers or wireless accesspoints). Examples of the triangulation and trilateration localizationtechniques may involve use of one or more of time of arrival (TOA),angle of arrival (AOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), anduplink-time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) techniques. RSSI fingerprintmatching, trilateration, and triangulation techniques can be used withcellular and wireless access points that are configured to communicatewith any of a variety of different communication standards andprotocols, including GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy(BLE), LoRa, ZigBee, Z-wave, and RF.

In some examples, an adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 64 that includes a GSM/GPRS transceiver can scan GSMfrequency bands for signals transmitted from one or more GSM cellulartowers. For each signal received by the adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform segment 64, the adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform segment 64 can determine the signal strength andthe identity of the cellular tower that transmitted the signal. Theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64 cansend the signal strength and transmitter identifier to the networkservice 54 to determine the location of the adhesive product segment 64.If signal strength and transmitter identifier is available from only onecellular tower, the network service 54 can use nearest neighborlocalization techniques to determine the location of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment 64. If signalstrength and transmitter identifier is received from two or morecellular towers, the network service 54 can use localization techniques,such as fingerprint matching, trilateration, and triangulation, tocalculate the position of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 64.

In some examples, an adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 64 that includes a Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity)transceiver can scan Wi-Fi frequency bands for signals transmitted fromone or more Wi-Fi access points. For each signal received by theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64, theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64 candetermine the signal strength and the identity of the access point thattransmitted the signal. The adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 64 can send the signal strength andtransmitter identifier information to the network service 54 todetermine the location of the adhesive product segment 64. If signalstrength and transmitter identifier information is available from onlyone Wi-Fi access point, the network service 54 can use nearest neighborlocalization techniques to determine a location of the adhesive productsegment 64. If signal strength and transmitter identifier information isreceived from two or more Wi-Fi access points, the network service 54can use localization techniques, such as trilateration, andtriangulation, to calculate the position of an adhesive product segment64. RSSI fingerprint matching also can be used to determine the locationof the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment64 in areas (e.g., indoor and outdoor locations, such as malls,warehouses, airports, and shipping ports) for which one or more radiomaps have been generated.

In some examples, the wireless transceiver in the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 64 can transmit awireless signal (e.g., a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRa,ZigBee, Z-wave, and/or RF signal) that includes the identifier of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 64. Thewireless signal can function as a beacon that can be detected by amobile computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) that is suitablyconfigured to ascertain the location of the source of the beacon. Insome examples, a user (e.g., an operator affiliated with the networkservice 54) may use the mobile computing device to transmit a signalinto an area (e.g., a warehouse) that includes the identifier of atarget adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment64 and configures the target adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 64 to begin emitting the wireless beaconsignal. In some examples, the target adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform segment 64 will not begin emitting the wirelessbeacon signal until the user/operator self-authenticates with thenetwork service 54.

The network service 54 includes one or more computing resources (e.g.,server computers) that can be located in the same or differentgeographic locations. The network service may execute one or more of avariety of different applications, including event detectionapplications, monitoring applications, security applications,notification applications, and tracking/locationing applications.

In one example, the network service 54 executes a locationingapplication 62 to determine the locations of activated adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segments 64. In some examples,based on execution of the locationing application 62, the networkservice 54 receives location data from one or more of the adhesiveproduct segments 64. In some examples, the network service 54 processesthe data received from adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segments 64 to determine the physical locations of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segments 64. Forexample, the adhesive product segments 64 may be configured to obtainlocationing information from signals received from a satellite system(e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR), cell towers, or wireless accesspoints, and send the locationing information to the network service 54to ascertain the physical locations of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segments 64. In other examples,the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segments 64are configured to ascertain their respective physical locations from thesignals received from a satellite system (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, andNAVSTAR), cell towers, or wireless access points, and to transmit theirrespective physical locations to the network service 54. In either orboth cases, the network service 54 typically stores the locationinginformation and/or the determined physical location for each adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment in associationwith the respective unique identifier of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment. The stored data may beused by the network service 54 to determine time, location, and state(e.g., sensor based) information about the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segments 64 and the objects orpersons to which the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segments 64 are attached. Examples of such information includetracking the environmental conditions or state of the current locationof an adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment64, determining the physical route traveled by the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 64 over time, andascertaining stopover locations and durations.

As shown FIG. 3, the client device 58 includes a client application 66and a display 68. The client application 66 establishes sessions withthe network service 54 during which the client application obtainsinformation regarding the states (e.g., locations) and events relatingto the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segments64. In some examples, a user of the client device 58 must beauthenticated before accessing the network service 54. In this process,the user typically presents multiple authentication factors to thesystem (e.g., user name and password). After the user is authenticated,the network service 54 transmits to the client device 58 data associatedwith the user's account, including information relating to the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segments 64 that areassociated with the user's account. The information may include, forexample, the state (e.g., current location) and events relating to aparticular adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformsegment 64, the physical route traveled by the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 64 over time, stopoverlocations and durations, and state and/or changes in state information(as measured by one or more sensors associated with the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment 64). Theinformation may be presented in a user interface on the display 68.State information (including location) may be presented in the userinterface in any of a variety of different ways, including in a table,chart, or map. In some examples, the location and state data presentedin the user interface are updated in real time.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the components of an example segment 70of an adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 64. Theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 70includes a number of communication systems 72, 74. Example communicationsystems 72, 74 include a GPS system that includes a GPS receiver circuit82 (e.g., a receiver integrated circuit) and a GPS antenna 84, and oneor more wireless communication systems each of which includes arespective transceiver circuit 86 (e.g., a transceiver integratedcircuit) and a respective antenna 88. Example wireless communicationsystems include a cellular communication system (e.g., GSM/GPRS), aWi-Fi communication system, an RF communication system (e.g., LoRa), aBluetooth communication system (e.g., a Bluetooth Low Energy system), aZ-wave communication system, and a ZigBee communication system. Theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 70 alsoincludes a processor 90 (e.g., a microcontroller or microprocessor), oneor more energy storage devices 92 (e.g., non-rechargeable orrechargeable printed flexible battery, conventional single or multiplecell battery, or a super capacitor or charge pump), one or moretransducers 94 (e.g., stimulus sensors and/or emitters, and, optionally,one or more energy harvesting transducer components). In some examples,the conventional single or multiple cell battery may be a watch styledisk or button cell battery that is associated electrical connectionapparatus (e.g., a metal clip) that electrically connects the electrodesof the battery to contact pads on the flexible circuit 116.

Examples of sensing transducers 94 include a capacitive sensor, analtimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a strainsensor, a pressure sensor, a light sensor (e.g., a photodiode or acamera), a sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), a chemical sensor (e.g.,an explosives detector), a biosensor (e.g., a blood glucose biosensor,odor detectors, antibody based pathogen, food, and water contaminant andtoxin detectors, DNA detectors, microbial detectors, pregnancydetectors, and ozone detectors), and a humidity sensor. Examples ofemitting transducers 94 include light emitting components (e.g., lightemitting diodes and displays, electro-acoustic transducers (e.g., audiospeakers), electric motors, and thermal radiators (e.g., an electricalresistor or a thermoelectric cooler).

In some examples, the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 70 includes a memory 96 for storing data (e.g., state,event, and localization data, and a unique identifier 98 associated withthe segment 70). In some examples, the memory 96 may be incorporatedinto one or more of the processor 90 or sensors 94, or may be a separatecomponent that is integrated in the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 70 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5A, in some examples, the one or more transducers 94include one or more energy emitting transducers 95 that convert inputpower from an energy storage component 97 into output power. Exampleenergy emitting components of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform include an optical emitter (e.g., a light emittingdiode, a laser, etc.), an acoustic emitter (e.g., a loudspeaker), anelectromagnetic wave emitter, and an odor emitter.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in some examples, the one or more transducers 94include one or more energy absorbing transducers 99 that convert inputenergy into electrical energy used to charge the energy storagecomponent 97. Example energy harvesting components of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform for recharging the oneor more energy storage components 92 include at least one ofelectromagnetic wave harvesting (e.g., an electromagnetic wave detector(e.g., a radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting coil transducer), solarcell or photovoltaic harvesting, vibration harvesting, piezoelectricbased harvesting, and sound (e.g., ultrasound) harvesting.

Because battery power is finite and the power needs of any particularadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segmentgenerally is unknown, some examples of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segments are preconfigured in apower-off state and to remain in the power-off state until apredetermined event occurs. In some cases, the predetermined eventindicates that the adhesive product segment has been deployed for use inthe field. Example events include cutting a segment of an adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform from a roll, bending asegment of an adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformas it is being peeled off of a roll, separating a segment of an adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform from a sheet, anddetecting a change in state of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform.

Each segment 70 of the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 64 integrates components of a tracking system with a flexibleadhesive structure in a way that not only provides a cost-effectiveplatform for interconnecting, optimizing, and protecting the componentsof the tracking system but also maintains the flexibility needed tofunction as a flexible adhesive product (e.g., a functional flexibletape or label) that can be deployed seamlessly and unobtrusively intovarious applications and workflows, including event detectionapplication, monitoring applications, security applications,notification applications, and person and object tracking applications,and asset management workflows such as manufacturing, storage, delivery,and other logistics associated with products and other physical objects.In addition, in order to encourage the ubiquitous deployment of adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segments, the disclosedadhesive wireless communications and transducer platforms are designedto be fabricated using cost-effective fabrication methods, includingroll-to-roll and sheet-to-sheet fabrication processes.

In this regard, the components of an adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform 64 are designed and arranged to optimizeperformance, flexibility, and robustness for each target application.This encompasses factors, such as material selection, component layout,and mechanical integrity of the integrated system. To this end,electronic design automation tools are used to optimize the designacross the constituent layers of an adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform given prescribed performance targets (e.g.,mechanical integrity targets, electrical performance targets, and/orwireless communication performance targets). This includes simulationsof electromagnetic wave behavior across layers, heat dissipationbehavior, electrical parasitic behavior across layers (e.g.,inductances, capacitances, and resistances), and mechanical behaviors(e.g., the impact of bending and impressing bonding patterns on theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 64). Based onthese simulations, process technology design rules are developed fordesigning adhesive wireless communications and transducer platforms,including rules for integrating layers, rules for selecting the numberof layers, and rules for selecting the types of layers (e.g., throughinterposer vias, component layers, cover layers, substrate layers, andadhesive layers). In some examples, design rules are developed regardingthe layout of components in the different layers of an adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform 64. For example, minimum spacingand/or proximity rules are developed for the placement of antennas,rigid components, flexible components, passive components, and activecomponents. In these examples, rigid and active components, such as thecommunication circuits 82, 86 (e.g., receivers, transmitters, andtransceivers) and the processor 90, can have larger minimum spacingrequirements than flexible and passive components. In some examples,rigid components are spaced apart according to minimum spacing rules tosatisfy mechanical integrity and flexibility performance targets. Insome examples, active components are laid out according to minimumspacing rules to satisfy heat dissipation performance targets. In someexamples, design rules are developed for hierarchical assembly of anadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform by integratingsmaller adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformcomponents to form a larger integrated adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform system.

FIG. 6 shows a top view of a portion of an example adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform 100 that includes a first segment102 and a portion of a second segment 104. Each segment 102, 104 of theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 100 includes arespective set 106, 108 of the wireless adhesive product segmentcomponents 70. The segments 102, 104 and their respective sets ofcomponents 106, 108 typically are identical and configured in the sameway. In some other embodiments, however, the segments 102, 104 and/ortheir respective sets of tracking components 106, 108 are differentand/or configured in different ways. For example, in some examples,different sets of the segments of the adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform 100 may have different sets or configurations oftracking components that are designed and/or optimized for differentapplications, or different sets of adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segments may have different ornamentations (e.g.,markings on the exterior surface of the platform and/or different (e.g.,alternating) lengths.

An example method of fabricating the adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform 100 (see FIG. 5) according to a roll-to-rollfabrication process, is described in connection with FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7Bof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/842,861, filed Feb. 20, 2017,which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of an examplesegment 102 of the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 100 that includes a respective set of the components 106. Theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 102includes an adhesive layer 112, an optional flexible substrate 110, andan optional adhesive layer 114 on the bottom surface of the flexiblesubstrate 110. If the bottom adhesive layer 114 is present, a releaseliner (not shown) may be (weakly) adhered to the bottom surface of theadhesive layer 114. In some examples, the adhesive layer 114 includes anadhesive (e.g., an acrylic foam tape) that has a high bond strengthsufficient to prevent removal of the adhesive segment 102 from a surfaceon which the adhesive layer 114 is adhered without destroying theintegrity of the adhesive segment 102 and/or one or more of itsconstituent components. In some examples, the optional flexiblesubstrate 110 is implemented as a prefabricated adhesive tape thatincludes the adhesive layers 112, 114 and the optional release liner. Inother examples, the adhesive layers 112, 114 are applied to the top andbottom surfaces of the flexible substrate 110 during the fabrication ofthe adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform 100. Theadhesive layer 112 bonds the flexible substrate 110 to a bottom surfaceof a flexible circuit 116, that includes one or more wiring layers (notshown) that connect the processor 90, the wireless circuit(s) 82, 86,the antenna(s) 84, 88, the transducer(s) 94, the memory 96, and othercomponents in a device layer 122 to each other and to the energystorage/harvesting component(s) 92 and, thereby, enable the transducing,tracking and other functionalities of the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102. In some examples, aflexible polymer layer 124 encapsulates the device layer 122 and therebyreduces the risk of damage that may result from the intrusion ofcontaminants and/or liquids (e.g., water). The flexible polymer layer124 also planarizes the device layer 122. This facilitates optionalstacking of additional layers on the device layer 122 and alsodistributes forces generated in, on, or across the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102 so as to reducepotentially damaging asymmetric stresses that might be caused by theapplication of bending, torquing, pressing, or other forces on theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 102during use. In some examples, a flexible cover 128 is bonded to theplanarizing polymer 124 by an adhesive layer (not shown).

The flexible cover 128 and the flexible substrate 110 may have the sameor different compositions depending on the intended locationingapplication. The flexible cover 126 and the flexible substrate 110typically include flexible film layers and/or paper substrates, whichmay have reflective surfaces or reflective surface coatings. Examplecompositions for the flexible film layers include polymer films, such aspolyester, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and otherplastics. The optional adhesive layer on the bottom surface of theflexible cover 128 and the adhesive layers 112, 114 on the top andbottom surfaces of the flexible substrate 110 typically include apressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g., a silicon-based adhesive). In someexamples, these adhesive layers are applied to the flexible cover 128and the flexible substrate 110 during manufacture of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform 100 (e.g., during aroll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet fabrication process). In other examples,the flexible cover 126 may be implemented by a prefabricatedsingle-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and the flexible substrate110 may be implemented by a prefabricated double-sidedpressure-sensitive adhesive tape; both kinds of tape may be readilyincorporated into a roll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet fabrication process.In some examples, the flexible polymer layer 122 is composed of aflexible epoxy (e.g., silicone).

In some examples, the energy storage device 92 is a flexible batterythat includes a printed electrochemical cell that includes a planararrangement of an anode and a cathode and battery contact pads. In someexamples, the flexible battery may include lithium-ion cells ornickel-cadmium electro-chemical cells. The flexible battery typically isformed by process that includes printing or laminating theelectro-chemical cells on a flexible substrate (e.g., a polymer filmlayer). In some examples, other components may be integrated on the samesubstrate as the flexible battery. For example, one or more of theflexible antennas 84, 88, the circuits 82, 86, 120, and/or theprocessor(s) 90 may be integrated on the flexible battery substrate. Insome examples, one or more of these other components also (e.g., theflexible antennas and the flexible interconnect circuits) may be printedon the flexible battery substrate.

In some examples, the flexible circuit 120 is formed on a flexiblesubstrate by printing, etching, or laminating circuit patterns on theflexible substrate. In some examples, the flexible circuit 116 isimplemented by one or more of a single-sided flex circuit, a doubleaccess or back bared flex circuit, a sculpted flex circuit, adouble-sided flex circuit, a multi-layer flex circuit, a rigid flexcircuit, and a polymer thick film flex circuit. A single-sided flexiblecircuit has a single conductor layer made of, for example, a metal orconductive (e.g., metal filled) polymer on a flexible dielectric film. Adouble access or back bared flexible circuit has a single conductorlayer but is processed so as to allow access to selected features of theconductor pattern from both sides. A sculpted flex circuit is formedusing a multi-step etching process that produces a flex circuit that hasfinished copper conductors that vary in thickness along their respectivelengths. A multilayer flex circuit has three of more layers ofconductors, where the layers typically are interconnected using platedthrough holes. Rigid flex circuits are a hybrid construction of flexcircuit consisting of rigid and flexible substrates that are laminatedtogether into a single structure, where the layers typically areelectrically interconnected via plated through holes. In polymer thickfilm (PTF) flex circuits, the circuit conductors are printed onto apolymer base film, where there may be a single conductor layer ormultiple conductor layers that are insulated from one another byrespective printed insulating layers.

In the example adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformsegment 102 shown in FIG. 7A, the flexible circuit 116 is a singleaccess flex circuit that interconnects the components of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform on a single side of theflexible circuit 116. In other examples, the flexible circuit 116 is adouble access flex circuit that includes a front-side conductive patternthat interconnects the communication systems 72, 74, the processor 90,the one or more sensors 94, and the memory 96, and allows through-holeaccess (not shown) to a back-side conductive pattern that is connectedto the flexible battery (not shown). In these examples, the front-sideconductive pattern of the flexible circuit 120 connects thecommunications circuits 82, 86 (e.g., receivers, transmitters, andtransceivers) to their respective antennas 84, 88 and to the processor90, and also connects the processor 90 to the one or more sensors 94 andthe memory 96. The backside conductive pattern connects the activeelectronics (e.g., the processor 90, the communications circuits 82, 86,and the sensors) on the front-side of the flexible circuit 120 to theelectrodes of the flexible battery 116 via one or more through holes inthe substrate of the flexible circuit 120.

FIGS. 7B-7D show examples in which the cover layer 128 of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform 100 includes regionsover one or more of the transducers 94 that have properties,characteristics, or features that are designed to improve the operatingperformance of the platform 100 for specific applications.

FIG. 7B shows an example of the cover 128 that includes an openingcontaining a window 132 positioned over one or more of the transducers94. In an example, the one or more transducers include a light sensor(e.g., a photodiode or a camera), and the window 132 is opticallytransparent to light within the wavelength ranges detectable by thelight sensor. In an example, the window 132 includes one or more opticallenses and/or filters for focusing and/or filtering incoming light ontolight sensing regions of the light sensor for, e.g., diagnostic orenergy harvesting applications. In an example, the one or moretransducers 94 include a light emitter (e.g., a light emitting diode, alaser, or a camera flash), and the window 132 includes one or moreoptical lenses and/or filters for focusing and/or filtering outgoinglight generated by the light emitter and passing through the window 132into the external environment. In an example, the one or moretransducers 94 include a radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting coiltransducer, and the window 132 includes one or more properties,characteristics, or features that match the impedance of incoming RFenergy to the RF energy harvesting coil transducer. In an example, theone or more transducers 94 include a temperature sensor (e.g., a metalthin film resistance temperature sensor), and the window 132 includesproperties, characteristics, or features that improve thermal energytransfer from the external environment to the temperature sensor.

FIG. 7C shows an example of the cover 128 that includes an opening thatcontains a flexible membrane 134 over one or more of the transducers 94.In an example, the one or more transducers 94 include an input audiodevice (e.g., a microphone) that includes the membrane 134 whichoperates as a diaphragm by moving back-and-forth in response to soundwaves, and a coil attached to the diaphragm moves back-and-forth inrelation to a magnetic field of a magnet to generate an electricalcurrent in the coil that is indicative of sound levels in the vicinityof the membrane 134. In an example, the one or more transducers 94include an output audio device (e.g., a loudspeaker) that includes themembrane 134 which operates as a diaphragm by moving back-and-forth toproduce sounds (e.g., a loud notification alert) in response to an inputelectrical signal (e.g., a signal generated in response to the detectionof an event, such as a loud sound, the presence of smoke, a rapidacceleration or deceleration, etc.).

FIG. 7D shows an example of the cover 128 that includes an opening 136over one or more of the transducers 94. In an example, the one or moretransducers 94 include an audio device (e.g., a loudspeaker ormicrophone). In an example, the audio device includes a speaker thatemits a sound in response to detection of an event (e.g., anacceleration above a threshold acceleration level, a sound above athreshold sound level, a torsion above a threshold torsion level, and/ora strain above a threshold level of strain). In an example, the one ormore transducers 94 include a chemical sensor or biosensor (e.g., asurface acoustic wave device) that includes a surface that is coatedwith an exposed layer of suitable material such as polymers, metals, andmetal oxides that target specific analytes (e.g., chemicals orbiological entities) that change the propagation or other functionalcharacteristics of the sensor in response to exposure to the targetanalytes. In an example, the chemical sensor or biosensor may includeone or more optical emitters (e.g., a light emitting diode) forilluminating one or more of the target chemicals or biomarkers. In anexample, the chemical sensor or biosensor may include one or moreoptical sensors (e.g., an image sensor or camera) for detecting targetcolor changes in the chemicals or biomarkers.

Because battery power is finite and the power needs of any particulartracking adhesive product segment generally is unknown, some examples ofthe tracking adhesive product segments are preconfigured in a power-offstate and to remain in the power-off state until a predetermined eventoccurs. In some cases, the predetermined event indicates that theadhesive product segment has been deployed for use in the field. Exampleevents include cutting a segment of a tracking adhesive product from aroll, bending a segment of a tracking adhesive product as it is beingpeeled off of a roll, separating a segment of a tracking adhesiveproduct from a sheet, and detecting a change in state of the trackingadhesive product.

Referring to FIG. 8A, in some examples, each of one or more of thesegments 270, 272 of a tracking adhesive product 274 includes arespective circuit 275 that delivers power from the respective energysource 276 to the respective tracking circuit 278 (e.g., a processor andone or more wireless communications circuits) in response to an event.In some of these examples, the wake circuit 275 is configured totransition from an off state to an on state when the voltage on the wakenode 277 exceeds a threshold level, at which point the wake circuittransitions to an on state to power-on the segment 270. In theillustrated example, this occurs when the user separates the segmentfrom the tracking adhesive product 274, for example, by cutting acrossthe tracking adhesive product 274 at a designated location (e.g., alonga designated cut-line 280). In particular, in its initial, un-cut state,a minimal amount of current flows through the resistors R₁ and R₂. As aresult, the voltage on the wake node 270 remains below the thresholdturn-on level. After the user cuts across the tracking adhesive product274 along the designated cut-line 280, the user creates an open circuitin the loop 282, which pulls the voltage of the wake node above thethreshold level and turns on the wake circuit 275. As a result, thevoltage across the energy source 276 will appear across the trackingcircuit 278 and, thereby, turn on the segment 270. In particularembodiments, the resistance vale of resistor R₁ is greater than theresistance value of R₂. In some examples, the resistance values ofresistors R₁ and R₂ are selected based on the overall design of theadhesive product system (e.g., the target wake voltage level and atarget leakage current).

In some examples, each of one or more of the segments of a trackingadhesive product includes a respective sensor and a respective wakecircuit that delivers power from the respective energy source to therespective one or more of the respective tracking components 278 inresponse to an output of the sensor. In some examples, the respectivesensor is a strain sensor that produces a wake signal based on a changein strain in the respective segment. In some of these examples, thestrain sensor is affixed to a tracking adhesive product and configuredto detect the stretching of the tracking adhesive product segment as thesegment is being peeled off a roll or a sheet of the tracking adhesiveproduct. In some examples, the respective sensor is a capacitive sensorthat produces a wake signal based on a change in capacitance in therespective segment. In some of these examples, the capacitive sensor isaffixed to a tracking adhesive product and configured to detect theseparation of the tracking adhesive product segment from a roll or asheet of the tracking adhesive product. In some examples, the respectivesensor is a flex sensor that produces a wake signal based on a change incurvature in the respective segment. In some of these examples, the flexsensor is affixed to a tracking adhesive product and configured todetect bending of the tracking adhesive product segment as the segmentis being peeled off a roll or a sheet of the tracking adhesive product.In some examples, the respective sensor is a near field communicationssensor that produces a wake signal based on a change in inductance inthe respective segment.

FIG. 8B shows another example of a tracking adhesive product 294 thatdelivers power from the respective energy source 276 to the respectivetracking circuit 278 (e.g., a processor and one or more wirelesscommunications circuits) in response to an event. This example issimilar in structure and operation as the tracking adhesive product 294shown in FIG. 8A, except that the wake circuit 275 is replaced by aswitch 296 that is configured to transition from an open state to aclosed state when the voltage on the switch node 277 exceeds a thresholdlevel. In the initial state of the tracking adhesive product 294, thevoltage on the switch node is below the threshold level as a result ofthe low current level flowing through the resistors R₁ and R₂. After theuser cuts across the tracking adhesive product 294 along the designatedcut-line 280, the user creates an open circuit in the loop 282, whichpulls up the voltage on the switch node above the threshold level toclose the switch 296 and turn on the tracking circuit 278.

FIG. 8C shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional front view of an exampletracking adhesive product 300 and a perspective view of an examplepackage 302. Instead of activating the tracking adhesive product inresponse to separating a segment of the tracking adhesive product from aroll or a sheet of the tracking adhesive product, this example isconfigured to supply power from the energy source 302 to turn on thetracking circuit 306 in response to establishing an electricalconnection between two power terminals 308, 310 that are integrated intothe tracking adhesive product. In particular, each segment of thetracking adhesive product 300 includes a respective set of embeddedtracking components, an adhesive layer 312, and an optional backingsheet 314 with a release coating that prevents the segments fromadhering strongly to the backing sheet 314. In some examples, the powerterminals 308, 310 are composed of an electrically conductive material(e.g., a metal, such as copper) that may be printed or otherwisepatterned and/or deposited on the backside of the tracking adhesiveproduct 300. In operation, the tracking adhesive product can beactivated by removing the backing sheet 314 and applying the exposedadhesive layer 312 to a surface that includes an electrically conductiveregion 316. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrically conductiveregion 316 is disposed on a portion of the package 302. When theadhesive backside of the tracking adhesive product 300 is adhered to thepackage with the exposed terminals 308, 310 aligned and in contact withthe electrically conductive region 316 on the package 302, an electricalconnection is created through the electrically conductive region 316between the exposed terminals 308, 310 that completes the circuit andturns on the tracking circuit 306. In particular embodiments, the powerterminals 308, 310 are electrically connected to any respective nodes ofthe tracking circuit 306 that would result in the activation of thetracking circuit 306 in response to the creation of an electricalconnection between the power terminals 308, 310.

In some examples, after an adhesive product segment is turned on, itwill communicate with the tracking service 54 to confirm that theuser/operator who is associated with the adhesive product segment is anauthorized user who has authenticated himself or herself to the trackingservice 54. In these examples, if the adhesive product segment cannotconfirm that the user/operator is an authorized user, the adhesiveproduct segment will turn itself off.

FIG. 9 shows an example method of detecting occurrence of an event nearan adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 102.Respective signals indicative of conditions near the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102 are received from oneor more transducers (FIG. 9, block 150). In some examples, one or moretransducers integrated into or mechanically coupled to adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102 can receive inputstimulus and produce therefrom output signals indicative of conditionsdetected by one or more of the transducers. Data specifying theconditions near the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform is transmitted to a processor that detects an occurrence of anevent (FIG. 9, block 152). In some examples, the processor (e.g., acomputer of the network service 54, the client computer 58, or theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 102)can detect the occurrence of the event by processing the data specifyingthe detected conditions using one or more of a machine learningclassification algorithm, a deterministic algorithm that applies one ormore criteria defining the event, or a heuristic.

After a particular event has been detected, one or more of the networkservice 54, the client computer 58, and the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102 can respond in avariety of different ways depending on the detected event type and, insome cases, the context of the detected event. For example, one or moreof the network service 54, the client computer 58, and the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment 102 may generatea respective notification.

For example, in an example scenario, the detected event relates to acrime or potential harm to a person (e.g., a rapid acceleration ordeceleration indicating a car accident or a fall, smoke or other harmfulchemicals, a rapid rise in the detected ambient temperature), theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 102 canemit an audible alarm to alert nearby persons and automatically place acall to emergency services. The adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 102 also can transmit a notification of theevent to the network service 54, which can take appropriate actiondepending on the nature of the event (e.g., the network service 54 cancall emergency services).

In another example scenario, the network service 54 may track anadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment (e.g.,adhesive bandage 49) that is known to be associated with a child, andissue an alert to the network service 54 or emergency services when thechild is determined to be outside a permitted geographic area or isdetermined to be near or in an unsafe location (e.g., a pool, highway,or construction site) in a context that is detected as an event by atrained machine learning model, a deterministic algorithm that appliesone or more criteria defining the event, or a heuristic.

Referring to FIG. 10, in another example scenario, the network service54 tracks an adhesive wireless communications and transducer platformsegment 102 that is associated with construction equipment—includingpower tools such as drills 156 and jackhammers, forklifts, bulldozers,and other vehicles—and issues a potential theft alert to a designatedsecurity service or emergency services when the construction equipmentis determined to be outside a permitted geographic area (e.g., thedesignated construction site) and/or the adhesive wirelesscommunications and transducer platform segment 102 stops transmitting aregular heartbeat signal in a context that is detected as an event by atrained machine learning model, a deterministic algorithm that appliesone or more criteria defining the event, or a heuristic.

FIG. 11A shows an example adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segment 160 that includes a light reflective surface162. In the illustrated example, the adhesive wireless communicationsand transducer platform segment 160 has a rectangular shape that issized to fit on a fire extinguisher 164 (see FIG. 11B). In theillustrated example, the adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment 160 includes a removable backing layer that must bepeeled off before adhering the segment 160 to the fire extinguisher 164.

Referring to FIG. 11B, in the illustrated example, the fire extinguisher164 includes two adhesive reflectors 160 and 166. In an example, bothadhesive reflectors 160, 166 are adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segments, which may have the same or different setsof components. In this way, the adhesive reflectors 160, 166 can provideredundant or complementary sets of wireless communication and transducercomponents. In another example, only the top adhesive reflector 166 isimplemented by an adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform segment; a conventional adhesive label implements the bottomadhesive reflector 160.

The network service 54 is configured to detect events relating to thefirst extinguisher 164 by monitoring one or both of the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segments 160, 166. In anexample scenario, the network service issues an alert to a designatedmaintenance service, security service, or emergency services when thefirst extinguisher 164 is determined to be outside a permittedgeographic area (e.g., the designated road or construction site), theadhesive wireless communications and transducer platform segment 160stops transmitting a regular heartbeat signal, or a loud sound wasreported by one or both of the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform segments 160, 166 in a context that is detected asan event by a trained machine learning model, a deterministic algorithmthat applies one or more criteria defining the event, or a heuristic.

FIG. 12 shows an example adhesive wireless communications and transducerplatform 102 in the form of a label 170 containing reflective letteringadhered to a traffic sign 172. In an example scenario, the adhesivewireless communications and transducer platform segment 170 includes animage sensor (e.g., a camera) behind a transparent window 174 in thecover of the adhesive wireless communications and transducer platform170. In this example, the adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platform 170 is configured to detect red light, speed, andother traffic violations in a context that is detected as an event by atrained machine learning model, a deterministic algorithm that appliesone or more criteria defining the event, or a heuristic.

FIG. 13 shows an example of three adhesive wireless communications andtransducer platforms 180, 182, 184 adhered to an example of clothing(e.g., a sweat shirt).

FIG. 14 shows an example of a printing apparatus 200 (e.g., an inkjetprinter, a laser printer, etc.). In the illustrated example, theprinting apparatus 200 includes an output tray 206 and a control panel208 with a display and operation controls at the font of the mainprinter body 204, and an input tray 202 or cassette that is attached tothe back of the main printer body 204. The input tray 202 is coupled afeed mechanism (not shown) that feeds sheets of adhesive product 207from a stack of adhesive product sheets in the tray into the mainprinter body 204 for printing, and the output tray 206 is configured toreceive the printed sheets of the adhesive product 207. In otherexamples, the printing apparatus 200 includes an input mechanism forfeeding a continuous sheet of the adhesive product from a roll into themain printer body 204 for printing, and an output mechanism forreceiving the printed adhesive product on an output roll. In someexamples, each adhesive product sheet and roll includes multiplesegments of adhesive product.

The main printer body 204 includes a print head 210 that is configuredto applying a marking substance (e.g., ink or toner) to the top surfaceof the adhesive product while the print head 210 reciprocates on acarriage (not shown) in a direction substantially orthogonal withrespect to the direction in which the adhesive product is fed past theprint head 210 in the main printer body 204. In the illustrative exampleshown in FIG. 14, the adhesive product 207 includes a sheet of adhesiveproduct segments, each of which is marked with a different respectivebar code (e.g., a two-dimensional barcode).

FIG. 15A shows an enlarged top view of a top surface of an adhesiveproduct segment 212 that has been marked with a respective bar code, andFIG. 15B shows a block diagram of an example set of components includedwithin the body of the adhesive product segment 212. In general, anadhesive product segment 212 may include any combination of the wirelesscommunications and transducer components disclosed in connection withthe segment examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 7A-7D.

In some examples, the adhesive product segment 212 also includes aninitialization circuit 216 for initializing the adhesive product segment212. In some of these examples, the initialization circuit 216initializes the adhesive product segment in response to stimulusreceived from the printer 200.

In some examples, one or more components of the printing system 200generate a stimulus that turns on the adhesive product segment 212 byconnecting the energy storage component(s) 92 to one or more of thewireless circuit(s) 82, 86, transducer(s) 94, processor(s) 90, and thememory 96. In some of these examples, the energy storage component(s) 90may be connected to one or more of the other components of the adhesiveproduct segment 212 as the adhesive product segment 212 is being loadedinto the printing system 200, as the print head 210 is printing markingson the top surface of the adhesive product segment 212, and/or after theadhesive product segment 212 has been printed out.

In some examples, the stimulus includes a change in capacitance oroutput of a bend sensor as the adhesive product segment 212 passes overor between one or more printer rollers that is is detected by atransducer 94, which turns on a switch in the adhesive product segment212 that connects the energy storage component(s) 92 to one or more ofthe other components of the adhesive product segment 212.

In some examples, the stimulus includes an electromagnetic wave wakeupsignal that is generated by a transmitter or transceiver (e.g., a nearfield communication transceiver) component of the printer 200 (e.g., acommunications unit 216) and is detected by a wakeup circuit in theadhesive product segment 212, which connects the energy storagecomponent(s) 92 to one or more of the other components of the adhesiveproduct segment 212. In some examples, the electromagnetic wave stimulusinduces in a receiver component (e.g., a coil antenna) of the adhesiveproduct segment 212 a current that enables data to be read from thememory component 96. In some examples, the electromagnetic wavetransmitter or transceiver is located on the print head 210. In someexamples, some or all of the data that is printed on the top surface ofthe adhesive product segment 212 also can be stored in the memory 96 ofthe adhesive product segment 212.

After one or more electronic components of an adhesive product segment212 have been activated, the communications unit 216 can communicatewith the adhesive product segment 212. For example, the communicationsunit 216 may read and/or write data to the memory 96. In some examples,the communications unit 216 reads data, such as an identification number(e.g., a universally unique identifier (UUID)) that is stored in thememory 96, and/or stores data, such as an identification number (e.g., auniversally unique identifier (UUID)) in the memory 96. In someexamples, one or more other devices (e.g., a mobile phone) may have reador write access to data to the memory 96 of an adhesive product segment.

In some examples, one or more components of the printing system 200generate a stimulus that turns off the adhesive product segment 212 bydisconnecting the energy storage component(s) 92 from one or more of thewireless circuit(s) 82, 86, transducer(s) 94, processor(s) 90, and thememory 96. In some examples, the adhesive product includes one or moreswitches or relays (e.g., general-purpose input/output (GPIO) channel)that enables the adhesive product to be shutdown according to aprocessor controlled hibernation protocol.

In some examples, before or during printing, the communications unit 216retrieves data stored in the memory 96 of one or more of the adhesiveproduct segments 212 or other memory component of the adhesive product207, and sends the retrieved data to be integrated into the printcontent to the printer controller for printing on the top surfaces ofone or more of the adhesive product segments by the print head 210. Insome examples, a user's mobile device may write data to a memorycomponent of the adhesive product 207 that directs the printer what toprint based on information (e.g., a calendar date or time) that isuploaded from the memory component by the communications unit 216.

In some multi-segment adhesive product sheet examples, the adhesiveproduct sheet has a shared controller across multiple labels that createa hierarchy of computing that is used to configure the printing system200. In some of these examples, one of the segments of the adhesiveproduct sheet is the master and other segments are the slaves withrespect to communications between the adhesive product sheet 207 and theprinting system 200.

FIG. 16 shows an example embodiment of computer apparatus 320 that,either alone or in combination with one or more other computingapparatus, is operable to implement one or more of the computer systemsdescribed in this specification, including one or more of the trackingservice system 54, the network system 52, the client system 58, and themonitoring equipment 56.

The computer apparatus 320 includes a processing unit 322, a systemmemory 324, and a system bus 326 that couples the processing unit 322 tothe various components of the computer apparatus 320. The processingunit 322 may include one or more data processors, each of which may bein the form of any one of various commercially available computerprocessors. The system memory 324 includes one or more computer-readablemedia that typically are associated with a software applicationaddressing space that defines the addresses that are available tosoftware applications. The system memory 324 may include a read onlymemory (ROM) that stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) thatcontains start-up routines for the computer apparatus 320, and a randomaccess memory (RAM). The system bus 326 may be a memory bus, aperipheral bus or a local bus, and may be compatible with any of avariety of bus protocols, including PCI, VESA, Microchannel, ISA, andEISA. The computer apparatus 320 also includes a persistent storagememory 328 (e.g., a hard drive, a floppy drive, a CD ROM drive, magnetictape drives, flash memory devices, and digital video disks) that isconnected to the system bus 326 and contains one or morecomputer-readable media disks that provide non-volatile or persistentstorage for data, data structures and computer-executable instructions.

A user may interact (e.g., input commands or data) with the computerapparatus 320 using one or more input devices 330 (e.g. one or morekeyboards, computer mice, microphones, cameras, joysticks, physicalmotion sensors, and touch pads). Information may be presented through agraphical user interface (GUI) that is presented to the user on adisplay monitor 332, which is controlled by a display controller 334.The computer apparatus 320 also may include other input/output hardware(e.g., peripheral output devices, such as speakers and a printer). Thecomputer apparatus 320 connects to other network nodes through a networkadapter 336 (also referred to as a “network interface card” or NIC).

A number of program modules may be stored in the system memory 324,including application programming interfaces 338 (APIs), an operatingsystem (OS) 340 (e.g., the Windows® operating system available fromMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. U.S.A.), software applications341 including one or more software applications programming the computerapparatus 320 to perform one or more of the steps, tasks, operations, orprocesses of the locationing and/or tracking systems described herein,drivers 342 (e.g., a GUI driver), network transport protocols 344, anddata 346 (e.g., input data, output data, program data, a registry, andconfiguration settings).

Examples of the subject matter described herein, including the disclosedsystems, methods, processes, functional operations, and logic flows, canbe implemented in data processing apparatus (e.g., computer hardware anddigital electronic circuitry) operable to perform functions by operatingon input and generating output. Examples of the subject matter describedherein also can be tangibly embodied in software or firmware, as one ormore sets of computer instructions encoded on one or more tangiblenon-transitory carrier media (e.g., a machine readable storage device,substrate, or sequential access memory device) for execution by dataprocessing apparatus.

The details of specific implementations described herein may be specificto particular embodiments of particular inventions and should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of any claimed invention. Forexample, features that are described in connection with separateembodiments may also be incorporated into a single embodiment, andfeatures that are described in connection with a single embodiment mayalso be implemented in multiple separate embodiments. In addition, thedisclosure of steps, tasks, operations, or processes being performed ina particular order does not necessarily require that those steps, tasks,operations, or processes be performed in the particular order; instead,in some cases, one or more of the disclosed steps, tasks, operations,and processes may be performed in a different order or in accordancewith a multi-tasking schedule or in parallel.

Other embodiments are within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wireless communications and transducerplatform, comprising: a plurality of segments of a laminated structurecomprising a cover and a substrate; wherein, in a device layer betweenthe cover and the substrate, each of the plurality of segments includescomponents comprising an antenna; a wireless communications systemcoupled to the antenna; a transducer operable to generate ambient datacharacterizing an environmental state of the segment in response toexposure to external stimulus; a processor coupled to the wirelesscommunications system and the transducer; an energy storage componentcoupled to the processor, the transducer, and the wirelesscommunications system; a non-transitory processor-readable mediumcomprising processor-readable instructions which, when executed by theprocessor, configures the processor to perform operations comprisingevaluating the ambient data, ascertaining whether the evaluated ambientdata is detected as an event, and responding to a detected event; and ineach of one or more of the plurality of segments, a respective openingin the laminated structure aligned with the respective transducer. 2.The wireless communications and transducer platform of claim 1, whereinthe transducer is s light sensor and the opening in the laminatedstructure comprises a window that is optically transparent to lightwithin a wavelength range detectable by the light sensor.
 3. Thewireless communications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein thetransducer comprises an image sensor and the opening comprises a lensthat is optically transparent to light within a wavelength rangedetectable by the image sensor.
 4. The wireless communications andtransducer platform of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a lightemitter and the opening in the laminated structure comprises a windowthat is optically transparent to light within a wavelength rangetransmittable by the light emitter.
 5. The wireless communications andtransducer platform of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a radiofrequency energy harvesting coil electrically coupled to the energystorage component.
 6. The wireless communications and transducerplatform of claim 5, wherein the opening in the laminated structurecomprises an interface that is impedance-matched with the radiofrequency energy harvesting coil.
 7. The wireless communications andtransducer platform of claim 1, wherein the transducer is a microphoneand the opening in the laminated structure comprises a diaphragm of themicrophone.
 8. The wireless communications and transducer platform ofclaim 1, wherein the transducer is a loudspeaker and the opening in thelaminated structure comprises a diaphragm of the loudspeaker.
 9. Thewireless communications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein theevaluated ambient data is detected as an event based on a detectedchange in level of a parameter characterizing the state of the segmentabove a threshold level.
 10. The wireless communications and transducerplatform of claim 9, wherein the evaluated ambient data is detected asan event based on a detected acceleration of a segment of the platformabove a threshold acceleration level.
 11. The wireless communicationsand transducer platform of claim 1, wherein the evaluated ambient datais detected as an event based on a detected temperature of a segment ofthe platform above a threshold temperature level.
 12. The wirelesscommunications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein the evaluatedambient data is detected as an event based on a detected torsion of asegment of the platform above a threshold torsion level.
 13. Thewireless communications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein theevaluated ambient data is detected as an event based on a detectedstrain of a segment of the platform above a threshold strain level. 14.The wireless communications and transducer platform of claim 1, whereinthe instructions configure the processor to perform operationscomprising detecting an occurrence of the event based on execution ofmachine learning classification application program on the ambient datacharacterizing the environmental state of the segment.
 15. The wirelesscommunications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein theinstructions configure the processor to perform operations comprisingdetecting an occurrence of the event based on execution of deterministicapplication program on the ambient data characterizing the environmentalstate of the segment.
 16. The wireless communications and transducerplatform of claim 1, wherein responsive to the detected event, theprocessor is operable to control the wireless communications system totransmit a wireless message comprising a notification of the detectedevent.
 17. The wireless communications and transducer platform of claim16, wherein responsive to the detected event, the processor is operableto control the wireless communications system to transmit a predefinedresponse associated with the detected event.
 18. The wirelesscommunications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein responsive toa detected event, the processor is operable to control the wirelesscommunications system to call emergency services.
 19. The wirelesscommunications and transducer platform of claim 1, wherein the cover andthe substrate are flexible and are laminated to a pressure sensitiveadhesive layer.